The next morning, Okabe woke up bright and early.
Although he had already obtained the authentic recipe for Yuxiang Shredded Pork from Master Yang and bought the crucial yulazi from him,
he knew this was no time to relax.
His opponent was Azami Nakiri.
Despite the man's radical ideology, he was a graduate of Totsuki Academy and a former First Seat of the Elite Ten; his skills were not to be underestimated.
Fortunately, the person he would be facing directly in this Shokugeki was Erina Nakiri.
At this thought, Okabe's expression grew serious.
"Erina's fundamentals are weak. Because she's been assigned so much on-site inspection work, she hasn't had any time to practice. She's probably not even as good as Alice."
"Her only advantage is the God's Tongue, which has been fully and effectively developed over these past two years, enhancing her understanding of culinary flavors."
"This is most likely the real reason Azami Nakiri chose 'A Dish Rich in Flavors' as the theme. He wants to prove to the world that there's nothing wrong with his educational methods."
This was Azami Nakiri's approach to education: focusing solely on the development of the God's Tongue while ignoring everything else, as if talent were the only thing that mattered in a chef's career.
And Okabe had a conspiracy theory about all this.
Did Azami Nakiri truly not know about his illegitimate son out there somewhere? Or did he know but deliberately refused to acknowledge him, hiding some ulterior secret?
As a man who married into the Nakiri family, was Azami Nakiri truly content? After all, judging by how Mana Nakiri treated him, there didn't seem to be much love between them; they were like strangers.
"I can't keep thinking about this. I'm wasting time. Right now, I should be focused on how to win the upcoming Shokugeki!"
Striding into the kitchen, Okabe began to practice what he had learned from Master Yang the day before. Soon, one plate of Yuxiang Shredded Pork after another was served.
"The seasoning is a bit off."
"This one has too much yulazi. Different brands of broad bean paste have different flavors and levels of saltiness, so the resulting taste is different."
"The flavor is good this time, but I overcooked the pork when velveting it in the wok. Ten seconds earlier would have been better."
The flames in the kitchen never died down. After completing each dish, Okabe would taste it and reflect, leaving the rest to Ikaros for harmless disposal.
[Proficiency in Yuxiang Shredded Pork has increased]
[Congratulations, Host. You have raised the recipe for Yuxiang Shredded Pork (Blue) to the Adept level.]
Bolstered by his Mastered Stir-Frying technique, Okabe gained an average of 10 to 20 proficiency points for every plate of Yuxiang Shredded Pork he made.
After a full day of cooking, he successfully raised the Yuxiang Shredded Pork (Blue) recipe to the Adept level and gained some new insights into it.
According to the system's assessment, the Yuxiang Shredded Pork (Blue) he could now produce had reached a level of about 80 points, classifying it as a delicious dish.
"I now have a basic understanding of pure Yuxiang Shredded Pork. While the flavor is excellent, I feel it might not quite suit the local palate. Perhaps I should change it a bit."
As this idea surfaced in his mind, Okabe temporarily stopped cooking and sat down on a chair to think.
The potential of a dish like Yuxiang Shredded Pork was very high—after all, it was one of the timeless classics of Sichuan cuisine—but it wasn't something he could master in such a short time.
Besides, the recipe he had was only Blue-grade. For such a classic of Sichuan cuisine, Okabe refused to believe this was its upper limit.
The deadline for the competition was three days. With today already over, he only had tomorrow left.
Time was tight and the task was demanding. To achieve a breakthrough in such a short period, he had to rely on innovation. In other words, he had to create his own version of Yuxiang Shredded Pork.
But he had no clue where to start! Improving and innovating a dish was never an easy task; it required a chef to have a wealth of practical experience.
In the original story, Soma Yukihira spent over a decade in a small diner, constantly competing against his old man and honing various techniques, which is how he developed such incredible innovative abilities.
He, on the other hand, had only run a street stall for a little over a year, selling nothing but Hot and Sour Shredded Potatoes. His technique had improved, but his creativity was still at a novice level.
"Brother Okabe, how's it going? Want to make some tanghulu to change your mood?~"
Just as Okabe was racking his brain without a single idea, a childish voice called out from outside. The young girl skipped cheerfully into the kitchen, a bag of hawthorns in her hand and a craving look on her face.
However, her purpose for coming wasn't really the tanghulu; she wanted to help Okabe change his mood.
She had just heard from Ikaros that Okabe had been in the kitchen all day without coming out. This wasn't a good state to be in; sometimes, being too fixated can be detrimental to cooking.
"Tanghulu? We did talk about making some last night. You've already brought the hawthorns?"
Hearing Alice Nakiri's words, Okabe snapped out of his thoughts. He then noticed the bag in her hand, through which he could vaguely see the hawthorns inside.
"Mhm! Let's eat something sweet to relax. It'll help your brain work faster when you think later."
Okabe had been researching dishes for the past two days, and the pressure had reached its peak. If he didn't relax, he would likely get stuck in a dead end.
She had experienced similar things before, so she knew exactly how Okabe was feeling right now.
"Hawthorn... a faint, fresh aroma, with a sour and slightly sweet taste. It's a prime example of a sweet and sour balance, where the sourness is much more pronounced than the sweetness. Tomatoes are similar in that regard."
"Huh? Brother Okabe, what's wrong...?"
Seeing Okabe take the bag from her and suddenly start muttering to himself, Alice Nakiri grew a little anxious, thinking her arrival had somehow agitated him.
"It's nothing! Thank you, Alice! I know what dish to present at the competition now!"
His eyes sparkling with excitement, Okabe grabbed Alice Nakiri's shoulders and began to shake her vigorously, expressing the joy he felt at that moment.
"Huh?"
Hearing Okabe's words, Alice Nakiri's expression froze. She tilted her little head, puzzled.
"The secret is in this hawthorn!"
As he spoke, Okabe took a hawthorn from the bag and held it up. Under the light, it seemed to be coated in a brilliant golden glow.
·
·
"Father, I think we could add a small amount of yuzu juice instead of lemon juice. The unique and fresh aroma of yuzu can elevate the aromatic layers of the entire dish.
Besides, adding yuzu juice to dishes is relatively uncommon. Everyone tends to use lemon juice, so this might give the judges a pleasant surprise!"
In a spacious, brightly lit kitchen, two figures stood in a corner. Experiencing the flavor that lingered on her tongue, Erina Nakiri proposed her idea to Azami Nakiri.
Although this match concerned both her and Okabe's fate, she was still prepared to give it her all.
On one hand, he had told her not to hold back. On the other, she also wanted to understand her own heart and determine once and for all whether Okabe's philosophy was right, or her father's.
"Erina, you just need to do as I say. There is no need for your input here. My ideas already represent the optimal solution for this dish."
Hearing Erina Nakiri's idea, Azami Nakiri didn't look pleased. Instead, his face darkened as he looked at her, completely rejecting her suggestion.
"But..."
"There are no buts. It is inevitable that you will surpass me in the future. But right now, my skills are far superior to yours. You only need to listen to me.
Our cuisine doesn't need any surprises. It just needs to be placed there, and people will know exactly what it tastes like—a deliciousness that is entirely within expectations."
"Yes... Father."
·
·
Three days flew by, and the day of the competition soon arrived.
He placed the Seven-Star Knife: Wu Qu at the very top of his knife case before closing it. After quickly checking all his equipment, Okabe let out a long breath.
Pushing open the kitchen door, he found Alice Nakiri waiting for him. They looked at each other and smiled, then headed together to the designated Shokugeki arena.
Just you wait, Erina Nakiri.
After today, you will be completely free from that tyrant and can start a brand new life.
_____
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